New Lines to Fuel Semiconductor Production Expansion | EE Times

SAN FRANCISCO — An infusion of new semiconductor manufacturing lines — particularly for DRAM memory — is forecast to drive an above average increase in total industry wafer capacity in 2018 and 2019, according to market research firm IC Insights. Wafer capacity is projected to grow by 8 percent in both 2018 and 2019, higher than the roughly 5 percent average yearly growth for the industry between 2018 and 2019, according to IC Insights' most recent report on global wafer capacity. A shortage of both DRAM and NAND flash memory capacity last year drove prices increases that pushed broader semiconductor industry sales about $400 billion for the first time. According to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization, memory revenue increased by 61.5 percent last year, with DRAM sales growing by a 76.8 percent and NAND sales increasing by 47.5 percent. South Korea's Sams...